7. Winter in Tokyo

10 May 2011

Like i ever share in my previous journal, i like to read nove from Liana Tan. Finally, i can read her 3^rd book. That is Winter in Tokyo. I am very exiceted to read that book because her previous novel is very good.

The story is about Keiko. Her parents are from different country. Her mother is Indonesian and her father is Japanese but she and her parents have been living in Japan for a long time. Keiko, who worked in public libraries in the Shinjuku and lived in one of the modest apartment in downtown Tokyo, was obsessed with her ​​first love, Akira Kitano. That's why, even though he had aged 23 years, Keiko has not occurred for a serious relationship with any man. Keiko hope someday she will meet with Akira and realizing her first love. One day, Keiko apartment which is also inhabited by a husband and wife Osawa, Keiko, and Sato brothers, Tomoyuki Sato and his sister Haruka Sato, arrived of new residents, a man named Kazuto Nishimura, who lived in the apartment 201. Kazuto is back to Tokyo, after 10 years living in New York, United States, with both parents. Kazuto returns to Tokyo because he want to break away from the memories of the girl he loved, who was married to his best friend. Intimate relationships among apartment dwellers transmitted to Kazuto, which originally did not want to get too bothered with the life of neighbors. Even with Keiko, a handsome man who lives in New York as a professional photographer, feel the enjoyable life. Keiko herself felt that Kazuto, a reliable friend, though she upset because Kazuto have thougth that she is Naomi, Keiko’s twin sister, a Japanese famous model, who developed her career in the United States.

Same with other romance novel, predictably, after a month of establishing togetherness, there is a new feeling in the hearts of Kazuto and Keiko. Even Kazuto plans to express his feelings to Keiko, back from the overnight New Year in Kyoto, home of Keiko’s parents. But unfortunately, Kazuto who suffered a concussion due to some thugs ganged up, forget about everything that happened during his stay in Tokyo. He did not even remember if he had settled in one apartment and have neighbors who care about him. Well, husband and wife Osawa, Haruka and Tomoyoki Sato and Keiko, are very worried about Kazuto, who never returned to his apartment, after he brought Keiko to train station. Kazuto was oblivious to his feelings for Keiko, especially after he knew that Keiko had met with her ​​first love, Akira Kitano, who has become a doctor and Kazuto classmate during high school. The arrival of Yuri Iwamoto, Kazuto beloved girl, also buried Kazuto feelings to Keiko. Moreover, the arrival of Yuri to Tokyo, not just on business but also ask kazuto back to New York, with him.

Actually this novel is very interesting. The plot is also quite interesting. I am very appericiate to the writers. She can make such a good story line like this novel. There is a “red-line” in this novel with her other novel, Summer in Seoul and Autumn in Paris, but the “red-line” is vey natural. It is not too forced. But for the reader who already have read the previous novel, they think that Autumn in Paris is more interesting than this. Because Autumn in Paris’s ending is very tragic whereas Winter in Tokyo’s ending is only quite interesting. Same with others, i also think that Autumn in Paris is better than Winter in Tokyo because i prefer like the tragic ending than the happy ending. But i can not lie that Winter in Tokyo is also a good book.

6. if i have a thousands dollars

9 May 2011

If i have a thousands dollars now in my hand, i want to give it to children who are unlucky like a street musician children, a beggar children, and other street children. Now a days, many children especially in Indonesia can not go to school because of their condition. Whereas, i think going to school is very important especially for children. I know that not of all people who are success also going to school. There is a person who can success even without going to school. But i think all of people have to have basic education at school. I think that children is a fate of this country. Those children who will decide this country’s destiny. Can you imagine what will happen if our next generation can not go to school? I think this country can be getting worse. So, i want to give my dollars to them in order to those children can go to school like other children.

Besides that, i also want to build a school with good facilitation for poor people. Now a days in Indonesia school fee is very expensive especially if you want to school in a school with good facilitation, you have to pay more. So, not every children can go to school in there only rich student who can go to there. Whereas now a days if you want to have a good job with good salary, you have to good qualification which one of them you can get in good school. So, the result is a rich people still will be a rich people and poor people still will be a poor people. There is no chance for poor people to change their fate. Because of that, i want to build a school with good facilitation but the student do not have to pay more. So, the poor children also can school at there. They do not have to think how to pay the school fee. They only have to think how to make such a brilliant idea for this country.

I have one desire anymore of i have a thousands dollars now. Now a days, there are more and more people who do not have a job. They are poor since they are born, so that they can not go to school. Because of that, they do not have a chance to go to school so they do not have any capabilty so that they do not have a good job. Whereas they still have to eat and usually they have many children. So, they do not have a choice, they will do any jobs. One of them is beggar. I am pretty sure that actually they do not want to be a beggar but condition has forced them to be a beggar. So, i want to teach them all of skills which can make their live better. After that i want to give them a loan for assets to build a business. I think that’s all can decrease poor people in Indonesia. So that’s all which i want to do if i have a thousands dollars now.

5. Kris As A Representation of Indonesia in International Exhibition

5 May 2011

Indonesia is known as a country with the most culture in the world. Indonesia has 33 provinces, more than 740 tribes and more than 583 vernacular. We have a lot of culture which can we represent to an international people. One of them is Kris. Indonesia’s Kris has been listed in UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage of Human non-Material since 2005. Besides of the design is very unique, but there is an philosophy behind it, especially from Javaness people. But maybe there are not many people who know Kris very well, so i want to explain a little about Kris.

Kris is a weapon dagger stabbing group (pointed and sharp on both sides) with many cultural functions are known in the area of western and central Indonesia. The shape is distinctive and easily distinguished from other sharp weapons because it is not symmetrical at the base which is dilated, often tortous blade, and many of them have prestige which strokes the strand of bright medal blade. It consists of three main parts that is blade, Ganja (crutch) and upstream Kris (engraving, Kris handles). Type of stabbing weapon that has similiarities with Kris is badik.

Kris has many function. In the past, Kris serves as a weapon in duels/battles, as well as object complement for “Sesajen”. In contemporary usage, Kris is used more of a body accessory in dressing. It has a number of cultural symbols or becoming a valued collection of objects in terms of aesthetics.

Many people believe that Kris has magical power because Empu (the person who makes Kris) makes Kris with spiritual effort to the God. So people believe that the spiritual power of God to be the magical power or contain dagger of Kris.

All of that makes Kris be a things that very unique. There are not many countries that have a things like Kris. So, i supposed that Kris is very appropriate if we take to the International Exhibition.

4. Eksploring Tana Toraja

2 May 2011

Indonesia is known as a beutiful country. As an island nation, Indonesia has many island and beuatiful beach. However, foreign visitor usually only visited Bali or Lombok. In fact, Indonesia has many beautiful and fascinating place except Bali and Lombok which is not known by many people. If i have a chance to give an alternative place for foreign visitor, i will recommend Tana Toraja.

Tana toraja is located in south Sulawesi, north side of Makasar. Like other cities in Indonesia, Tana Toraja also has many mountains and forest and also many tradition which is very unique and different from other. Actually Tana Toraja has many fascinating place which you have to visit, but i only want to explain some of them.

The first is Tongkonan Palawa. Tongkonan Palawa is one of the most unique custom house in Indonesia. It is located in bamboo plantation on the top of the hill. It is decorated by buffalo horn which is plugged in front of the house. A long time ago, there is a tradition in there. If there is a war between the village and there is a rival who has been killed, his blood was drunk and the flesh was chopped. It is called Pa’lawak. At the middle of 11^th century, Pa’lawak was changed be Palawa’. So, Palawa’ was created be the name of the village and the tradition was changed to eat chicken. Tongkonan Palawa also has “rante” was called “Rante Pa’padunan” and “Liang Tua (Grave stone)” in Tiro Allu and Kamandi. Besides, it was also built “Lumbung or Alang Sura (a place to store rice)” as much as 5.

The second is Lemo. Lemo is a grave stone or place where the corpse with a form of holes in the wall rocks. This place is the product of Toraja’s creations which is remarkable. The grave was already there is 16^th century which is made by sculpting using very simple equipment. There are some stone canal model with circular shape and spots of orange or lemon. So, it was named Lemo and the grave stone is called a “Liang Pa’a”. There are 75 holes in the wall of the rock, like the statues that lined up and called “Tau-Tau”. This statue is a symbol of social position, status, and their role during the life of the local nobility.

The last is Londa. Londa is one of the unique funeral in Tana Toraja. Formerly, Londa is the family cemetry which was opened to the public to becomes the object of tourism. Tombs at Londa is somewhat unique because the corpse is only incorporated into the coffin and placed in stone cave. There are also many skeletons that have been there hundreds of years old. Same with Lemo, Londa is the burial place of the rock walls and sculputures (tau-tau). Inside the cave, there are many human skull. The nobility who died was placed at the top of the cave with rocks that are very rocky and very difficult to achieve, and also visitors rarely have the courage to ride. The cave is very unique and luxurious and in the crate, there are many valuable things that come stored. One thing to keep in mind that someone who visited the Londa, have to request permission to carry betel nut or flower. It is very taboo to take or move the bones, skull, or the bodies that exist in this cave.

That is all of the unique place in Tana Toraja. So, if you have time and money, you can visit Tana Toraja. I am sure that you will no regret if you visit Tana Toraja.

3. Autumn in Paris

30 April 2011

Today my friend, Erna, lend me a novel. The title is “Autumn in Paris”. It is a second book from Liana Tan. I already have read her first book “Summer in Seoul”. The first book is very nice. It is romantic and very interesting. So, when she lend me the second book, i am very happy. I really can not wait to read the book. It is not wrong. That book is pretty book.

The story is about the woman who lived in Paris. However, actually her mother is from Indonesia. Because her parents were divorced, she have to choose to live in Paris with her father. She is a radio announcer in one of the most popular radio in Paris. Her name is Tara Dupont. She is a cheerful woman and she loves autumn so much. One day, she meets with a man, Tatsuya Fujisawa, who is a architect. She knows Tatsuya because is her “brother” friend. She is really interested with him. She thinks that Tatsuya is different because he can spell her name exactly. Actually Tatsuya does not like Paris and also autumn. He thinks that Paris and autumn always remind him to his mother. His mother has passed away in autumn.

Both of them love each other. Their relationship is getting well. Until one day, when Tara’s friend celebrate her birthday party in Tara’s father club, Tatsuya meets with her father. He is very shock. Because actually Tara’s father is also his biological father.

Before Tatsuya’s mother passed away, she left a letter. She wants him give the letter to Jean Daniel Lemercier, his biological father and Tara’s father. Tatsuya is very sad know that he loves his sister. So he decides to go far from Tara. Tara who does not know what happen is trying to figure out all of it. One time, she hear her father calls Tatsuya, when she wants to ask her father, Sebastien, her friends told that Tatsuya had an accident. So she and her father immediately go to the hospital.

At the hospital, she sees her father with his friend that is a doctor. Her father tells his friend that Tatsuya is his biological son. Tara listens all that had been her father said. She is very shock even she tried to commit suicide. Fortunately Sebastien finds her and can save her. After the incident, Tatsuya decides to go back to Japan. In order that he and Tara can forget their love. After Tatsuya leaves her, Tara’s life changed drastically. There is no Tara who is very cheerful anymore. A few laters, Tara’s father gets call from someone in Japan. She told that Tatsuya had an accident, and now he is in comma. Tara and her father are very shock and they immediately go to Japan. Tatsuya’s condition is very bad. He is still comma. Seeing Tatsuya’s condition, Tara is very sad. She tried to speak with him. She believes that Tatsuya can hear her. It is right. Tatsuya shed tears when he hears Tara voice. However after that, Tatsuya pass away.

I really like this novel because it is very touching and sad. I cries a lot when i read this novel. I am very amazed with the writer. She can make such a nice and romantic at the beginning but becoming sad and tragic in the end story.

2. Indonesia custom

28 April 2011

Custom is a tradition of a picture of human behavior and attitude that has stood in a long time and carried out by generations of ancestors. I am sure that all of countries in the world have their own custom. Usually each of the custom is very unique and it has different custom. Usually custom be affected by history, habit, location of the country and religion. So that usually each of the countries has their own custom. And usually the personality of a country can be seen from their custom.

Like other countries, Indonesia also has its own custom. I think that Indonesia has many custom. One of them is called “Halal bi Halal”. Halal bi Halal is a moment when Indonesian people mutually apologized to each other. Usually it held in Idul Fitri day. This custom is a tradition that has been entrenched in Indonesia. Hence, many Indonesian people who make it as an important momentum in the procession of life.

It is not known exactly when the tradition originated. However that clearly has become a typical tradition of Indonesia, well before Indonesia become more modern. Oddly enough even though now Indonesia has a modern society but this tradition seems to not be cracked by the heat and weathered by the rain. Want proof? Try to see how the Indonesian people who are overseas and away from the relatives are willing to coincide return home only for one thing “Halal bi Halal”.

It was touching scene that at the end Ramadhan especially in the third or fourth day ahead of Idul Fitri, they scramble to get home to their respective regions with the aim of shaking hand and saying forgive each other in that day. This is one of the beauty of local traditions based on religion, which is once a year they gather to forgive each other and meet with relatives near and far in order to enliven the feast of Idul Fitri is always missed.

In this modern era, actually we can just say sorry to each other via mobile phones, even through facebook, twitter and so on. However, the desire for physical meet each other and their longing for his homeland was more important than anything. Hence, before the feast of all public transportation packed. Buses, trains, ships, planes are full of passenggers. Even private vehicles like cars and motorcycles are on the way a lot. Even sometimes they have to risking their live. It is feast has incrediable celebration for Indonesian people.

Even sometimes not only moeslim who celebrate it but many people who have different religion also come to celebrate it. I think now a days “Halal bi Halal” not only be religion celebration again but also be social celebration. All of people come to celebrate it does not matter he/she is moeslim or not. If other people in other country try to adapt this custom, i think the world can be better. All of people can forgive each other even though it is only one day.

1. My Mid Test

25 April 2011

Today is my writing test. Actually the test has postponed about 2 weeks. At Thursday, i already have studied about the material which will be tested with my friends. At that time, i am confident to finish the test well. In fact, the lecturer can not come to class today because of her another schedule. Then, our headclass told that the mid test will be hold at Monday. Actually i am a little disappointed because i already have studied the material.

Because i think i already understand the material, at Sunday night i did not study again. Last night i even choosen to watch videos of my favorite band than to study. Essentially i did not study at last night.

At the morning, i usually read book when i wait bus in shelter bus especially if i have a test. I always spend time to read the book even though it is only a little. However that morning i did not read the book at all. When i arrived at the college, i also did not read the book, i prefer to play woth my friends.

When the test was started, i was very neervous. The first question i think was not too difficult. I can do the test smoothly. Until i found the essay question, i forgot how to solve the question. It was question about adjective, adverb, and preposition. I did not know why i was pretty lost about the material. I tried to remember about the question but until the time was over i can not remember it. So, i answered the question with my own mind. I was sure that my answer is wrong.

When the time was over, i went out the class. Then i took a look to my book about the question. Ya without doubt, my answer is absolutely wrong. I was very regret. Why i can not remember it? And why i did not study or even read the book at last night and the morning? I was very regret. I am certain if i have another chance, i can finish the test well. However i know that time can not be played back. So, today i promise to myself that i do not wanna be a careless person anymore. I do not want this incident happen again.

This is my story about my writing mid test. I know that i did not give my best, but i hope that my value will i get is not too bad.