Pelangi Adya Citra

South African Penguin at Boulder Beach, Simon Town South Africa

2009-03-16T15:33:00.013+07:00

It was an interesting experience to have a chance to visit the penguin colony in South Africa in October 2008. There was a penguin colony in the southward area from Cape Town in South Africa. The place is called Boulder Beach. I went there by a small coach that I rented from Cape Town. I stayed at Cape Town and made some tours to several destination around Cape Town. One place that I visited was the Boulder Beach at Simon Town where I could see the penguin colony. The colony was nearby like in the backyard of many people house in the beach.

Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is located in the Cape Peninsula, near Simon's Town towards Cape Point, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The flock of penguin in the granit boulder.

The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Black-footed Penguin or Jackass Penguin is found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with the largest colony on Dyer Island, near Kleinbaai. Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. Mainland colonies probably only became possible in recent times due to the reduction of predator numbers, although the Betty's Bay colony has been attacked by leopards. The only other mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not known when this was established.

I tried to be closed to the flock of the penguin but the people there suggested me not to do that since the penguin may get upset.

A Mother and daughter taking picture in the Boulder beach with penguin and house backyard in the background.

A simple map of South Africa to provide the reader with an orientation.

Mount Salak in the Morning, From Ciawi West Java Indonesia

2009-03-13T07:42:00.004+07:00

West Java or the land of Parahyangan. West Java is rich with high land and mountaineous area. Mountain or hills is believed as the house of God. Parahyangan means Para ( all or many ) and Hyang ( god ). Parahyangan means places of God. In many place in the world people go up to top of the mountain top for prayer. Photograph was taken by Arif Wibowo

Father and Son Dancing Before Mass Circumcision

2009-03-12T12:21:00.005+07:00

Circumcision is one of Islamic religion obligation. So it does in Sundanese tradition who has been following Islamic religion for long time ago. So circumcision has become an important part of Sundanese tradition. In Sundanese, a boy ussually get circumcised at the age of 6 to 8 years old. Ussually there would be 20 to 30 boys participated in the mass circumcision. Before the traditional mass cisrcumcision, the village hold a celebration party with traditional ceremony. The party intended to appreciate the boy who like to be circumcised and cheers them before circumcised. Also,the important one is to ask the bless of God, so the procedure will work safely.

The pictures above and below shows the son and father dancing to gather in traditional Sundanese music. This event happened in the Sindangbarang village, Bogor, West Java Indonesia. This village is one of village in West Java that stll keep the indigenous tradition of Sundanese. The father cheered the boy to be brave to have the circumcision on the next day.

Butterfly in the Garden

2009-03-11T15:56:00.004+07:00

An Indigeneous Sundanese of West Java, Indonesia

2009-03-11T15:45:00.003+07:00

The boy is an indigenous of Sundanese in West Java Indonesia.

Glenn Fredly Tribute to Chrisye at March 2009 Jakarta Java Jazz Festival

2009-03-10T14:28:00.009+07:00

Glenn Fredly Tribute to Chrisye JavaJazzfestival 2009, 7 Maret 2009 jam 20.00 Plenary Hall, JCC (free special show) . The such a large plenary hall was full of the audience. A lot of improvisation was presented by Glenn to make Chrisye's appeared jazzy. Glenn was good at appreciating Chrisye. In addition to that, Glenn reminded the audience to love and to be proud of its nation, Indonesia. Glenn presented some slides of his journey acrross Indonesia that is still suffering from starvation and poor welfare. Eventhough, we got to be proud of Indonesian musiscian works. Glenn believed that himself as a musician and the audience can do something for a better Indonesia.

Wife of Chrisye received an appreciation on behalf of Chrisye.

Jakarta International Java Jazz 5th Edition 7,8,9 March 2009 : Harvey Mason

2009-03-10T13:56:00.007+07:00

Harvey Mason is undoubtedly one of the most influential drummer/percussionist of jazz, especially fusion. At Java Jazz Festival March 7, 2009 in Jakarta Convention Center, he showed his talent again, just like what he gave at last year’s Java Jazz Festival. This time he brought his quartet and played superb jazz fusion. His energic play on drums was just unbelievable!

First Time of Bike to Work

2009-03-06T09:57:00.012+07:00

This morning Friday 6 March 2009, is the first time for me to go to my office by bycicle. It was fun. I live in Pesanggrahan Jakarta Selatan and my office is in Jalana Jenderal Gatot Subroto at Wisma Mulia Building.

I started from my home by bike at 5.30 AM in the morning. From my house at Jalan Gelora Pesanggrahan I went through Jalan Haji Gari and I met with Aris Setiawan, who live at Bintaro Sektor 9, at Pintu Kereta Api Ulujami. Then we continue biking together through a small road and came out at Jalan Tanah Kusir. We continued to Jalan Ciputat Raya, then to Jalan Taman Gandaria, Jalan Kiyai Maja, Jalan wolter Monginsidi, Jalan Tendean and arrrived at City Plaza parking nearby Wisma Mulia at 06.10 AM in the morning. It took 40 minutes from my home to office and the distance was about 17 kilometers. Then we were welcomed with drinking water and sweet bubur kacang ijo. Ehmm, very nice and feel very good.

Then coming some more biking friend Heru Sunarto, Roy Noviar, Heru, Skolastika and her husband. We then chit chat and sharing about our experience during the bike to work journey. Everybody says that bike to work is not that horrible like some people think. It is really fun. It save us our time since we do not need time for exercise in a gym. We biked in relax way. We could chat with friend during biking.

Green Rice Field in Sindangbarang Village, Bogor Indonesia

2009-02-25T15:59:00.007+07:00

A beautiful and peaceful village in West Java Indonesia. It is Sindangbarang village located 15 kilometer southward from Bogor city.

The Lumbung Padi or the paddy rice storage. The harvested rice from the field was dried then stored in these storage. The picture above shows the main storage for the village. The farmer put their paddy rice here under the management of the head of village. The rice stored in these storage is for social and common welfare purpose.

During the dry season or failure in harvest, the rice is handed and distributed to the suffer who do not have rice due to bad harvest.

Indonesia is a rich and peaceful country.

Gurok Beraye Water Fall in Belitung Island, Indonesia

2009-02-24T13:12:00.015+07:00

One place of interest in Belitung Island is Gurok Beraye waterfalls. It is located at Gunung Tajam. Gunung Tajam is the highest hill in Belitung Island with its height around 500 meters above mean sea leval. From the height of the hill, we can view anjoy the beauty of Belitung Island panoramas. About 300 meter from the hill top there is a small water falls that the Belitung people call it " Air Terjun Gurok Beraye" ( Gurok Beraye Waterfalls ).

The water is very clean, fall from the top to a natural pond at the bottom of the waterfalls. The atmosphere of the waterfall is really quiet. It is a nature where you find no pollution or disturbance of city life uproaring.

The road to the waterfalls has been asphalted but the visitor must be careful since the road is mountaineous and on the right side of the road along the way to the place there is deep and steep valleys.

Reuni Aranya Giri Sakta di Vila Firdaus Sukabumi

2009-02-23T16:48:00.018+07:00

Pada hari minggu tanggal 22 Februari 2009, bertempat di Vila Firdaus Selabintana, berlangsung reuni alumni SMA Mardi Yuana Sukabumi yang pernah aktif dalam kegiatan pencinta alam Aranya Giri Sakta. Pertemuan berlangsung dari jam 10.00 pagingga jam 15.00. Dalam pertemuan tersebut hadir sekitar 30 alumni dari berbagai angkatan Aranya Giri Sakta.Selesai pertemuan para alumni sempat berfoto bersama.

Pertemuan ini diadakan untuk membahas situasi terkini Aranya Giri Sakta yang sedang dibekukan kegiatannya oleh SMA Mardi Yuana. Beberapa pertanyaan muncul, apakah Aranya Giri Sakta harus tetap di dalam lingkungan SMA Mardi Yuana. Idealnya adalah demikian, yaitu Aranya Giri Sakta tetap berada di dalam SMA Mardi Yuana, tetapi tidak perlu tergesa-gesa untuk kembali aktif di SMA mardi Yuana. Ada beberapa hal yang perlu perbaiki dalam internal Aranya Giri Sakta.

Alumni yang hadir sadar bahwa mereka hanyalah alumni SMA Mardi Yuana yang sudah berada di luar lingkungan SMA Mardi Yuana yang sebenarnya masih ada ikatan batin dengan SMA mardi Yuana Sukabumi. Beberapa rekomendasi dari pertemuan ini adalah bahwa dari pertemuan ini dibentuk paguyuban yang disebut sebagai Keluarga AGS. Keluarga AGS ini dibentuk untuk mempererat ikatan antar angkatan Aranya Giri Sakata alumni SMA Mardi Yuana Sukabumi. Untuk itu Saudara Muksin Sofyan bersedia sebagai Koordinator Komunikasi dalam Keluarga AGS dan sekretariat tetapi di Sukabumi di rumah Prisca Sunarto Jalan Siliwangi 88. Keluarga AGS akan tetap mengupayakan Aranya Giri Sakata bisa aktif kembali di dalam lingkungan SMA Mardi Yuana Sukabumi sebagai wadah pembinaan generasi muda melalui kegiatan kepencinta-alaman.

Selanjutnya diagendakan beberapa acara outdoor bersama untuk memepererat silaturahmi kekeluargaan antar seluruh anggota Aranya Giri Sakta alumni SMA Mardi Yuana Sukabumi.
Berita selengkapnya akan disampaikan oleh Saudara Bambang dalam Facebook AGS.

Angkatan Pertama dan salah satu pendiri Aranya Giri Sakta, Kang Rahmat Setiadi.

Angkatan termuda Aranya Giri Sakta, angkatan ke 29.

Saudara Bambang sedang memimpin rapat di ganggu panggilan telepon.

Bayu dan Prisca memberi penjelasan mengenai keadaan terakhir dari Aranya Giri Sakta.

Street Portrait Painter at Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2009-01-30T23:50:00.003+07:00

When you take a walk for sight seeing in the evening at Bukit Bintang, if you were lucky you can find a street portrait painter. You can try, if you dare, to be painted on the side of the street. In May 2008, I visited Kuala Lumpur for a seminar, I took awalk around Bukit Bintang Junction. I saw this man being painted in the road side of the street. It was interesting to me. The guy could not do anything except just stay calm when I took his pictures many times.

Jalan Alor, The Center of Chinese Food in Kuala Lumpur

2009-01-30T22:52:00.008+07:00

If you are looking for a tasty Chinese Food in Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor ( Alor Street ) is the place. It operates during evening to night time.

Two ladies enjoying chines meal at Jalan Alor.

Burung Cici Merah

2009-01-30T22:28:00.006+07:00

Foto burung Cici Merah ini di ambil di kawasan satu kompleks perumahan di Jakarta Barat. Di kompleks itu ada lahan tanah yang belum dibangun dan banyak ditumbuhi alang-alang tinggi dan lebat. Burung Cici Merah bertelur di dalam semak-semak tersebut. Burung Cici Merah terbang jauh dan selalu kembali di tempat di mana dia pernah bertelur.

Ekspresi yang lucu dan burung Cici Merah.

Pertunjukan Budaya Pada Acara Seren Taun di Kampung Budaya

2009-01-29T08:11:00.010+07:00

Masih tentang Acara Seren Taun Guru Bumi di Kampung Buadaya Sindangbarang.Setelah acara pemilihan dongdang terbaik, kemudian Pupuhu berdoa mengucap syukur dan acara rebutan dongdang tibalah acara pertunjukan kesenian tradisional Kampung Budaya berupa tarian, angklung dan pencak silat.

Pencak silat adalah seni tari dan beladiri yang sangat populer di Indonesia. Tak ketinggalan Kampung Budaya Sinangbarang pun memiliki aliran pencak silat yang khas asli daerah Sindangbarang. Pencak silat adalah permaian yang melambangkan jiwa perwira dan ksatria bangsa Indonesia.

Pertunjukan atraksi angklung gubrak. Atraksi ini menceritakan persaingan secara ksatria antara dua kelompok lelaki. Masing-masing kelompok dipimpin oleh penari yang membawa gendang dan diiringi oleh tiga orang pembawa angklung. Kedua kelompok itu bersaing seakan-akan hingga berkelahi. Pembawa gendang dengan diringi gerakan angklung yang dinamis, bertarung dengan pembawa gendang yang lain. Yang lebih dulu bisa menjatuhkan lawannya, itu yang menang.

Ini adalah pertunjukan tarian rampag gendang. Gadis-gadis cantik berpakaian warna-warni menyala dengan penuh semangat memainkan tarian rampag gendang. Mereka dengan lincah memukul gendang dengan irama yang sangat dinamis. Kemudian disusul dengan atraksi menari di atas gendang mereka.

Prayer at Petak Sembilan During Chinese New Year January 27, 2009

2009-01-27T12:19:00.002+07:00

Jakarta has more than a hundred chinese temple ( Kelenteng ). One of them is an old temple Jin De Yuan in the Pecinan Lama Glodok area in West Jakarta. This temple was built in the year 1650 by a chinese Luitenant officer Kwee Hoen and it was named as Koan In Teng that means Koan Im Pavillion. In the year 1755 this tempel was re-built by Kapitein Oei Tjhie and it was named Kim tek Le temple. Kim Tek Le temple was erected in a 3000 meter square land, that include the large fire place or Tay Bio. This temple now still strongly exists and people called as Temple of Dharma Bhakti but its is more popular with the name Petak Sembilan.

People is praying inside the temple during the Chinese New Year.

People is praying in the middle of smoke.

Granit Boulder in Bilik Beach Belitung Island

2009-01-20T16:14:00.014+07:00

Pantai Bilik ( Bilik beach ) is located in the in the western edge of Belitung Island.

It is called Pantai Bilik because there so many huge granit boulder as huge as a house. The granit boulder like to form a compartment in the beach. Bilik means compartment or room.

Two cute girls among the granit bloulder.

Manggar Beach in Belitung East

2009-01-19T13:24:00.004+07:00

Manggar beach is located in the eastern edge of Belitung ( Belitong ) island in Bangka-Belitung province of Indonesia. The pictures below were taken during early morning.

A fishermen boat was coming ashore in the morning.

Upacara Seren Taun Guru Bumi di Kampung Budaya Sindangbarang

2009-01-14T07:56:00.037+07:00

Puncak rangkaian acara Seren Taun Guru Bumi di Kampung Budaya berlangsung pada hari minggu tanggal 11 Januari 2009. Acara mulai pada sekitar jam 9 pagi, yang diawali dengan kirab dongdang dari bernagai RT di Kampung Budaya. Dongdang adalah persembahan hasil bumi yang dihias dengan sangat meriah, yang kelak dinilai untuk diperlombakan.

Kirab dongdang juga disertai dengan barisan penampil atraksi budaya seperti penari, pemain pencak silat , angklung dan penabuh gendang. Acara Seren taun Guru Bumi ini adalah ungkapan doa dan rasa syukur atas panen yang berhasil dan masyarakat Kampung Budaya yang damai, rukun dan sejahtera. Gemah ripah loh jinawi. Acara-acara budaya in direvitalisasi untuk melestarikan kekayaan warisan leluhur Tanah Sunda dan menjadikannya pelajaran bagi masyarakat Sunda khususnya dan dunia pada umumnya.

mempersembahkan buah-buahan dan sayur mayur hasil bumi terbaik.

Bibit padi terbaik untuk bibit musim tanam di tahun yang baru.

Para petani membawa hasil panen padi-padian dalam langkah tari.

Gadis-gadis penari yang mebuka jalan untuk rombongan pembawa dongdang.

Warga desa dengan rombongan dongdang berkumpul di alun-alun desa untuk upara Seren Taun.

Upacara menyimpan hasil panen di lumbung desa.

Pupuhu Kampung Budaya Bapak Ahmad Mikami Somawidjaja memberikan sambutan dan menjelaskan maksud dan tujuan Upacara Seren Taun di Kampung Budaya.

Pupuhu berdoa mengucap syukur di depan dongdang terbaik yang terpilih sebagi juara.

Denah menuju Kampung Budaya Sindangbarang.

Kampung Budaya Sindangbarang Kabupaten Bogor

2009-01-03T20:29:00.000+07:00

Kampung budaya sindangbarang terletak di desa pasir eurih kecamatan tamansari kabupaten Bogor Jawa Barat. Berjarak hanya 5 km dari kota bogor, atau 60 km dari kota Jakarta. Berada pada ketinggian 350 – 500 meter dpl, terdiri dari 14 RW dan 54 RT dengan jumlah penduduk mencapai 12000 jiwa.

Mata pencaharian sebagian Pesar penduduk adalah menjadi pengrajin sendal sepatu dan petani. Penduduknya 90% beragama Islam dan masih memegang sistim kekeluargaan yang sangat tinggi dalam kehidupan sehari-harinya. Curah hujan di kampung budaya sindangbarang cukup sedang dan cuacanya berkisar antara 23 derajat C pada malam hari dan 30 derajat C pada siang hari.

Sindangbarang, nama tersebut telah dikenal dan tercatat dalam babad pakuan / pajajaran sebagai salah satu daerah penting kerajaan sunda dan pajajaran. Hal ini disebabkan di sindangbarang terdapat salah satu keraton kerajaan tempat tinggalnya salah satu istri dari prabu Siliwangi yang bernama Dewi Kentring Manik Mayang Sunda. Sedangkan penguasa sindangbarang saat itu adalah Surabima Panjiwirajaya atau Amuk Murugul. Bahkan Putra Prabu Siliwangi dan Kentring manik mayang sunda yang bernama Guru Gantangan lahir dan dibesarkan di Sindangbarang.

Rumah-rumah untuk para tamu yang berada di tengah sawah. Sejauh mata memandang sawah luas menghampar hijau.

Rumah untuk tamu yang terletak di tengah taman bunga yang asri.

Kupu-kupu indah banyak beterbangan di taman yang indah di Kampung Budaya.

We Have Embarked to the New Year 2009

2009-01-01T06:15:00.014+07:00

This fisherman departed for the sea yesterday. Now, in the following morning he embarked to the shore and the year has changed. It is a new year. We all have embarked to the new year. The same land with the new hope. We may face the same job but with the new hope.

Yes, today is the First Day of January 2009. We are all given the same amount of time. Some people will make a big leap and impact in its fraction of time, some will just follow the time.

It is our decision whether or not having a solid New Year Resolution for The Year 2009.

The lesson learn : IF ONE DOES NOT KNOW TO WHICH PORT IS SAILING, NO WINDS IS FAVORABLE.

Eyang De Wafat

2008-12-31T23:32:00.001+07:00

Hari itu tanggal 28 Desember 2008, jam 14.20, aku sedang menunggu penerbanganku ke Jakarta di ruang tunggu Bandara HananDjoeddin Tanjung Pandan Belitung, ketika aku mendapat miss call dari Ibuku dan Adikku Koko di Jakarta, kemudian disusul dengan berita sms bahwa Eyang De telah wafat hari itu jam 2 siang. Aku sedikit terkejut dan agak panik, tapi aku bersyukur bahwa aku sedang dalam perjalanan pulang ke Jakarta. Bersyukurlah pula kami karena kami tidak jadi memperpanjang liburan keluarga kami di Pulau Belitong dan segera pulang ke Jakarta. Aku katakan pada adikku Koko bahwa jam 3 sore pesawatku akan take-off dan akan tiba di Cengkareng jam 4 sore.

Eyang De adalah panggilan untuk Ibu Maria Magdalena Soepartinah Soetarto. Beliau adalah kakak kandung dari Ibuku. Ketika aku masih kecil, kami semua memanggil beliau Bude yang dalam bahawa Indonesia berarti Uwak, kakak dari Ibu kami. Tetapi sejak Ibuku punya cucu dan menjadi Eyang, panggilan beliau jadi Eyang De. Panggilan yang penuh rasa hormat karena beliau adalah anak nomor dua dari sebelas bersaudara, sementara Ibuku bernomor urut delapan.Bisa dibayangkan betapa banyaknya keponakan Eyang De dari adik-adiknya.

Ibu Maria Magdalena Soepartinah Soetarto atau Eyang De lahir pada tanggal 19 Februari tahun 1921, jadi usia beliau akan genap 88 tahun nanti di Februari 2009 jika beliau masih sehat. Suatu karunia usia yang luar biasa. Eyang De adalah sosok seorang ibu yang lembut, cerdas, pemberi semangat untuk para keponakan dan cucu-cucunya, disiplin dan penuh perhatian dan sayang pada para keponakannya. Beliau bisa menjadi teladan dalam menjalankan kehidupan gamanya sebagai seorang Katolik. Hampir semua keponakannya yang jumlahnya puluhan itu mengenalnya secara dekat karena pernah mengalami betapa kuat kasihnya pada keponakannya. Mengapa beliau bisa begitu dekat dengan para keponakannya?

Pada pernikahannya yang pertama, beliau telah menjadi janda pada usia 33 tahun karena suaminya meninggal sebelum sempat dikaruniai putra. Pakde Sis, yang aku tahu, adalah suaminya yang pertama. Kami memanggilnya Pakde Sis dan Eyang De kami panggil Bude Sis. Sebagai janda beliau punya banyak waktu untuk mengunjungi keponakan-keponakannya dari adik-adik dan kakaknya yang masih kecil. Eyang De muda punya sifat keibuan yang tinggi sehingga mencurahkan kasih sayang pada keponakan seperti pada ank-anaknya sendiri. Itu aku alami bersama adik-adikku. Sehingga kami seakan punya dua Ibu. Ibuku sendiri dan Eyang De yang ketika itu kami panggil sebagi Bude. Dengan wafatnya Eyang De aku,juga saudara-sauraku dan sepupuku sangat kehilangan. Banyak rasa sesal di hati kami. Rasanya kami belum cukup membalas kasihnya pada kami.

Kami memanggil Eyang De dengan sebutan Bude Sis sampai beliau menikah lagi dengan seorang Duda, Pak Soetarto pada tahun 1975. Ketika itu usia Eyang De lima puluh empat tahun. Pak Soetarto ketika itu sudah mempunyai tiga orang putri yang sudah dewasa menjelang menikah. Pak Soetarto meninggal pada akhir tahun delapan puluhan, setelah lama menderita sakit stroke yang melumpuhkannya. Selama beberapa tahun Eyang De merawat Pakde Tarto hingga wafatnya. Suatu pengabdian seorang isteri yang luar biasa. Itu bisa terjadi karena iman dan kesabarannya yang sangat kuat.

Eyang De wafat di Rumah Sakit Puri Cinere di ruang ICU setelah menjalani operasi di kepala bagian belakangnya. Eyang De mengalami pendarahan di bagian dalam tempurung kepalanya karena kepalanya terbentur lantai karena jatuh. Mungkin kareana usia dan jantungnya yang lemah, membuat operasi bedah otak terlalu berat untuk fisiknya.

Pada hari Jumat sore tanggal 19 Desember 2008 sekita jam tiga sore, Eyang De terjatuh di teras depan rumahnya ketika sedang mengawasi tanaman-tanaman hiasnya. Rupanya Eyang De kehilangan keseimbangan dan mengalami blackout, lalu terjatuh dengan kepala bagian belakang terbentur lantai. Eyang De sempat didudukkan dan muntah. Lalu di bawa ke UGD di RS Fatmawati. Eyang De diperiksa dengan EKG dan CT scan. Ada pendarahan di kepala bagian belakanganya.

Pada hari minggu malam kira-kira jam sebelas, Eyang De dioperasi di RS Puri Cinere. Operasi selesai jam setengah lima pagi keesokan harinya. Operasinya berlangsung sekitar lima jam. Sejak itu Eyang antara sadar dan tak sadar sampai beliau wafat pada tanggal 28 Desember 2008 sekita jam 2 siang.

Bagiku Eyang De sangat istimewa. Beliau sangat sabar menyemangati aku ketika aku baru datang di Jakarta di tahun 1985 untuk mencari kerja. Dia sudah sama seperti ibuku sendiri. Beliau dengan senang hati menampungku tinggal bersamanya sejak tahun 1985 hingga tahun 1991 di rumahnya di Cipete Selatan Jakarta Selatan.

Bertemu Ibu Muslimah di Belitung - Laskar Pelangi

2008-12-29T01:23:00.005+07:00

Pada tanggal 26 hingga 28 Desember 2008, kami berkunjung ke Pulau Belitong ( Belitung ). Kami tertarik untuk melihat langsung tanah yang diceritakan oleh Andrea Hirata dalam bukunya Laskar Pelangi. Bersyukur kami sempat mampir ke rumah dan bertemu dengan tokoh yang inspiratif dalam buku Laskar Pelangi yaitu Ibu Muslimah. Pada gamabr di atas Ibu Muslimah nomor tiga dari kiri. Dalam film Laskar Pelangi tokoh Ibu Muslimah diperankan oleh Cut Mini ( http://laskarpelangithemovie.com/)

Ini adalah bangunan yang diceritakan dalam film Laskar Pelangi ( http://laskarpelangithemovie.com/ ) sebagai SD Muhamadiyah Gantong, yang diceritakan seperti gudang kopra. Bangunan ini yang mengundang simpati para penonton Laskar Pelangi karena bisa menggambarkan ketimpangan pendidikan di Indonesia.

Kakek Satuladin

2008-12-16T12:44:00.001+07:00

Kakek Satuladin badannya tinggi besar berkumis lebat seperti Pak Raden di cerita boneka si Unyil. Kakek Satuladin mempunyai cucu yang agak suka bermain iseng, Bolat namanya.

Ketika Kakek Satuladin tidur siang, Bolat mengoleskan terasi di kumis Kakek Satuladin yang tebal. Ketika Kakek Satuladin bangun ia merasa kamar tidurnya bau terasi dan anyir. Dia tak tahan dengan bau terasi di kamarnya, lalu segera bangun dan pindah ke ruang makan. Di sana Kakek juga mencium bau anyir terasi, kakek tak tahan dengan bau terasi itu. Kakek Satuladin marah-marah mengapa bau terasi.

Lalu kakek Satuladin pindah ke ruang tamu. Di ruang tamu itupun kakek mencium bau terasi yang anyir. Akhirnya kakek ke luar rumah ke halaman depan, kakek juga mencium bau terasi. Kakek mulai jengkel dan marah. Dia masuk lagi ke dalam rumah ke ruang keluarga, dia pun mencium bau terasi. Dia mulai bertanya pada orang-orang di sekitar." Mengapa ruangan ini bau terasi?". Yang lain menjawab : " Ah, tak ada terasa bau terasi, kami mencium udara biasa saja dan segar nyaman, tak ada bau terasi", jawab anggota keluarga yang lain.

Setiap pindah dan masuk ruangan, Kakek Satuladin marah-marah pada orang yang ditemui di ruangan itu. "Kenapa ruangan ini juga bau terasi?" katanya jengkel.

Akhirnya Kakek Satuladin merasa gerah dan dia pergi mandi. Kakek Satuladin menggosok seluruh tubunya denga sabun mandi kesayangannya yang terkenal harum. Dia gosok termasuk wajah dan kumisnya yang tebal. Selesai mandi, dia berpakaian rapi dan keluar kamar menemui orang-orang.

Ketika masuk ruang makan menemui anak-anaknya yeng berkumpul di situ, Kakek Satuladin tersenyum lebar : " Hmm udara terasa segar dan nyaman" kata Kakek Satuladin. Kakek sudah tak mencium bau terasi lagi. Kakek merasa nyaman. Kakek Satuladin tersenyum riang, semua anak-anak dan yang ada di ruangan itu pun jadi ikut senang. Anak-anak senang melihat Kakek Satuladin berwajah ceria. Kakek Satuladin tambah gembira, dan bergumam mengapa semua orang disekitanya lebih ramah dan senang padanya?.

Hmm, kita bisa marah-marah pada lingkungan sekitar kita tetapi itu juga bisa karena kita yang tidak nyaman dengan diri kita sendiri. Kita kadang tak tahu bahwa ketidak-nyamanan itu bersumber dari diri kita sendiri.

Natal 2008 Menjelang

2008-12-14T23:08:00.000+07:00

Semarak meriah di mall pusat perbelanjaan dengan nyanyian-nyanyian Natal. Paduan suara remaja manis menghangatkan suasana mall dengan lagu-lagu natal.

Ini menginjak minggu kedua di bulan Desember 2008. Natal sudah dekat. Bagi umat Katolik ini masa advent. Masa penantian. Umat Katolik menantikan Sang Imanuel. Dia yang akan menyelamatkan dan menebus dosa manusia. Umat Katolik perlu menyiapkan batin untuk siap menerima Sang Juru Selamat.

Bacaan misa hari minggu ini mengenai Yohanes Pembaptis yang menjadi pendahulu Kristus. Dia yang berseru-seru di Padang Gurun. Yang menyerukan : Luruskan lah jalan Tuhan. Seruan di Padang Gurun, seruan di tengah sunyi yang gersang. Seruan di tengah-tengah hati manusia yang merindukan wajah Tuhan. Bagaikan rusa merindukan air, itulah hatiku merindukan Engkau, Ya Tuhan.

Hati adalah rumah Tuhan. Tuhan akan lahir di hati ku. Aku harus meluruskan jalan Tuhan yang akan datang di hatiku. Masa Adven masa meluruskan jalan Tuhan, jalan menuju hati kita. Jalan menuju hatiku jadi berkelok-kelok karena keinginan-keinginan kita yang tak sesuai dengan Kehendak Bapa.Kita ingin kembali pada Kehendak Bapa agar tersedia jalan lurus bagi Kristus Sang Mesias masuk dalam hati kita.

Mencari dan mengikuti Kehendak Bapa, itulah iman kristiani.

Kesan

2008-12-13T23:51:00.000+07:00

Sesuai nama dari blog ini - Berbagi Kesan -, maksudnya adalah tempat untuk - share imperession-. Kesan adalah sesuatu yang kita rasakan terhadap sesuatu peristiwa yang kita hadapi. Kesan itu bisa baik, buruk atau indah. Kesan bisa disampaikan dalam sebuah sajian tulis atau juga berupa sajian gambar.

Saya berharap untuk bisa membagi kesan yang indah, positif dan inspiratif. Karena hal itu pula lah yang selalu ingin saya peroleh dari lingkungan saya.

Salam,
Arif Wibowo

Jakarta Car Free Day

2008-12-01T09:33:00.000+07:00

Every fourth Sunday in a month, Jakarta frees the Jalan Sudirman dan Jalan Thamrin from cars. People are free to use the street for sport and art happening.

Castle of the Good Hope, South Africa

2008-11-02T02:31:00.004+07:00

During our visit to Cape Town, South Africa for attending the International Conference of American Association of Petroleum Geologist ( AAPG ), we made visit to Castle of the Good Hope.

Inside the castle view with Table Mountain in the background.

Castle of the Good Hope is a castle in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 upon establishing a maritime replanishment station art the Cape of Good Hope for the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Verenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie).

On 26 April 1679 the five bastions were named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of Orange. The Western bastions was named Leerdam ; followed in clockwise order by Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Orange.

In 1936 the Castle was declared a National Monument. As a result of an extensive, ongoing restoration and conservation programme launched in the 1980's , the Castle of Good Hope remains the best preserved of its kind built by the VOC in regions where it had interests.

The Cape of Good Hope houses the regional headquarters of the South African Army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artworks, the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for traditional Cape Regiments.

1 Syawal 1429 at Sunda Kelapa Harbour, Jakarta

2008-10-01T14:21:00.002+07:00

People in Ied prayer a at Sunda Kelapa Harbour Jakarta.

The old Building Lawang Sewu Semarang

2008-06-15T12:57:00.006+07:00

The Lawang Sewu is an old building in Semarang, Central Java, which was the office of the Nederlandsch Indishe Spoorweg Naatschappij or NIS. It was built in 1903 and completed in the year 1907. It is now located at the roundabout Tugu Muda Semarang that was first called Wilhelmina Plein.

The local people called this building as Lawang Sewu (Thousand Gate). This is because the building has so many doors (in fact the door is not up to a thousand, perhaps also because the windows of the building is high and wide, then people also considered them as a doors).

This two floor ancient and magnificent building after the Indonesian independence was used as the office of Jawatan Kereta Api Indonesia (DKARI) or it is PT Kereta Api Indonesia. In addition to that, the building had also ever once used as an Office of Board Komando Regional Military Facility (Kodam IV / Diponegoro) and the Office of the Department of Transportation in Central Java.

During the struggle of independence, this building has a distinctive history record that is when the events a five days Semarang battle that took place in Semarang (14 October - 19 October 1945). This old building became the location of a great battle between youth AMKA or Youth Force against Kempetai Rail and Kidobutai, Japan. Therefore the Government of the City of Semarang under the decree of SK Wali Kota 650/50/1992, include the Lawang Sewu as one of 102 ancient or historic buildings in the city of Semarang that should be protected.

Currently, this more than 100 years old building was empty and poor and it has a bad reputation as a haunted building. Occasionally the building is used as a place for commercial exhibition, such as Semarang and Tourism Expo. It also has been a discourse to change this building to become a hotel. In in the year 2007, the building was also used to make a horror movie with the same title with the building name.

The inner part of the building that is dark and makes a feeling of being haunted has many interesting pictures of high quality solder glass.

Visit to Chin Swee Temple at Genting Highland, Kuala Lumpur

2008-05-30T21:55:00.000+07:00

Chin Swee Temple is a Taoist temple located in Genting Highland. It is downward from the Genting Highland theme park and casino center. Chin Swee temple construction was funded by Genting Berhad, one of largest world class casino. The Genting Berhad was founded by Mr Lim Goh Tong. He was the third richest businessman in Malaysia. During the Genting Berhad founder, Lim Goh Tong's 90th birthday, they donated RM 10 million or USD 2.5 million to the temple.

During attending an exploration seminar in Kuala Lumpur, I took a chance to visit this Chin Swee Temple. This was a large temple complex that was constructed on a hill cliff.

A down hill view to Chin Swee Temple.The temple has a nine storey pagoda on the right.

This is a map showing the things inside the Chin Swee Temple.

This is the nine storey pagoda in the Vhin Swee Temple. I and my driver climbed up to the top floor of the pagoda. It was nic view from the top to the down hill dan to the Chin Swee Temple complex.

This is a bird view from the top of the nine storey pagoda.

A lady took a pose on the statues of eight fairies.

Batu Caves Temple at Gombak, Kuala Lumpur

2008-05-09T11:56:00.010+07:00

One of the most popular day trip from Kuala Lumpur is to the limestone Batu Caves. It lies a short distance north of town and the main cave has to be accessed by climbing up 272 stairs. Hindu devotees perform annual pilgrimages during the festival of Thaipusam by putting on kavadis and climbing these steps to the temple inside the main cave.

In May 2008, when I visited Kuala Lumpur for an Exploration Seminar, I got a chance to see Batu Caves Hindu temple. I like to see and learn about temple since I always admired the way people worship their God.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia which attracts over 1.5 million pilgrims yearly, making it one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere in the world.Batu Caves was discovered over 100 years ago. It has grown to be an important devotional site for Hindus as well as a highly popular tourist attraction.

I climbed up the ladder to the main cave. To reach the entrance of the caves, I have to go up 272 steps.After the entrance, I could go down to the temple itself with idols of Hindu gods lining the cave walls on both side. The inner cave can be reach by climbing another short flight of stairs to see the opening of the cave beyond is the dark caves which you can go but guided.

The inner part of the cave on the top. There is a hollow on the top of the cave that we can see the sky.
A view to city of Kuala Lumpur in the late afternoon captured from the top of the cav

Hinduis people offered prayer in the temple.