fart vs burp

both could be bad, as well as good. its good for your health, but could be bad for people around you...

i was kinda amazed on how australian, or at least brisbanians (or brisbaners? or there's another name for brisbane people?) feel so free to fart on public.

case example:

i was sitting on the bench outside the public library using the internet, and there's two other people on the other side of the bench, using the internet too, and all of a sudden, the air around me smell very bad.. unmistakably, its a fart smell. ugh. and i look at them, and they were just laughing as if they didnt smell anything.. alright.. let it go.. not so long after, there's another guy come along with a computer, obviously planning to use the internet too.. he sad in the middle, between me and the couple.. and the smell, it come again.. this time, its not just me, this other guy obviously smell it too! because he looked around with this expression (which you can tell he must have smell something bad) first, he looked to the left, towards the couple, and they didnt seems to notice anything different, and then i realized he looked at ME! probably thinking that it was ME! but before i could give any him any expression that could explain something, he looked back to his computer, while pinching his nose. UGH!

another case example:

i was sitting at the coffee shop in campus, and enjoying the free coffee i got from doing the library tour, until suddenly, this girl, sitting in front of me, suddenly fart, really loud, but she, and the people around her, seems to not notice, or not giving any damn about it, and this things is kinda new to me. i mean, in Indonesia, if a someone (especially a girl) fart in public, somebody else would make a remark about it, regardless if its a positive or a negative remark, but somebody would have said something.

also another case example:

i was in the class, until *the same thing* suddenly i smell something bad.. and i thought, it must be fart, again. without a sound. i looked around, trying to find the guilty face, and i could find nobody! nobody putting a slightest sign of guilt! so i asked the oz girl who sat next to me if she smell something, and she was like.. yes, and just nod, no extra comment. UPS.

so i draw a conclusion that farting in public is something that is totally OK to do in Australia, or Brisbane at least. what about a burp? i never heard anybody burping on public, so i put myself on a case example, just to know, PLUS, sometime i cant control it, i burp involuntarily. It happens on the other day in Capoeira trial class, i was so thirsty so i drank my water, afterward, i cant help it, i burp, and straightaway i realized what i just did, and looked around, nobody seems to notice. this is good! hahaha.

also another time, when i walk to class, in the corridor i suddenly burp, prety loud, i must say, *but i apologize immediately afterward* and this guy, standing straight across from me, suddenly turn his head around and give me the "look", i mean, not that "look" but the look that probably say: did u just did that? burp? sort of look. i mean, i cant really explain it, but you know what i mean..

so now i wonder, is it OK to fart, but not all that OK to burp??

lost in.. orientation

this is one of the most stupid entry, i must say. it will describe how stupid i've been. sigh.

My university orientation start last monday, on the 23rd of february, and from the driver who picked me up in the airport *in the end i did find him and he get me to josh place safely* i got a little red book about the things i need to know once i arrived. So i read, there's a getting started session that was held every weekdays at 11am from January something to march something *i dont remember the dates* so i thought, alright, i'll go and see that on monday! nicely planned. So i got my accommodation sorted on the weekend and i am all good for uni on monday. I woke as early as i could (7 am, noted that) and figured which bus i should take and et cetera. at 10.45 am, i am in the Uni! super, i am sooooo on time! hahaha.. i am follow the sign that say INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION and arrived in a building, called UQ Centre, then i saw soooooo many people crowding the entrance.. i looked around and see a paper that say something like this:

Getting Started Session (compulsory)

For all new international student

UQ Center

14.00 - 15.00

*Jaw dropping expression* Started at two??!!! i should have sleep longer!! why the hell am i woken up at 7 this bloody morning? oh my goodness! but are these people doing here, if its start at 2pm? and why do everyone seems to know each other and they all carrying a blue bag with UQ logo on it? hmmmm... i should figure out.. but before i get to ask someone, i saw everyone walking into the exhibition hall, so i follow the crowd, get myself seated and say hi to a chinese-looking girl who sat next to me. hi, hello and everything, i figured out they're from malaysia and i figured out that the orientation for international student started at 8.30 this morning! what the hell.. why i didnt know this? apparently i need to always check my UQ email. ah, alright. Apparently there's a welcome session for International student where they explain whatever we need to know about the university. Afterwards, i follow the sign that say STUDENT CENTRE to pick up my student card, so i can get concession for the bus. I get in queue, wait for about an hour *its a looooong queue, believe me* until someone with a tag *I can help, ASK ME* come to me and ask, do you enrolled? i give her the bizarre look and ask her, didnt i need to talk with my academic adviser about the course that i need to take? and she told me: thats a very wise idea, but you need to enrolled in at least 1 course in my SI-net, whatever it is, and wait 24h for your student card to be ready, then you can meet your academic adviser, you can always change the course anytime during this week. So i was like.. hmmm.. alright.. so there's no point i wait in this line today. huh! wasting my 1h queuing in the bloody hot sun for nothing! FINEEEEE.. i get back tomorrow..

So i went around, looking for a place to sit so i can do the enrollment. i tried to log in to the internet, but i couldnt! it wont let me in! what is it now? so i went to the AskIT help desk, and the guy told me, no you cant use the internet unless you've enrolled. WTF?! how the hell am i gonna enrolled if i cant use the internet? while all the enrollment is done online? apparently i can open the UQ website to do the enrollment but cant open anything else, ok, so i complete my enrollment and and find my way back to the UQ Center, for the "Getting Started Session"

The getting started session was fun and all, the lady was very informative and throw jokes all around so it was ok.

checking the orientation guide from UQ, i figured out i have a welcoming session from faculty of NRAVS the next day. So the next day i went, and after the orientation we have morning coffee on which everyone was divided in a group, according to their program, i dont hear anyone calling out for Environmental Management, so i ask, apparently, staring from January THIS YEAR, environmental management is no longer with the faculty of NRAVS, its with the faculty of SCIENCE. hmm.. fine.. so i'll have my orientation tomorrow, but i stayed anyway and join the group for Integrated System and Natural Resources Management. Afterwards, we have the FREE BBQ *which i joined anyway* and there, i meet someone who asked me on what i am gonna do in uni, when i told him its Sustainable Development, he asked me if i have any engineering background, that question make me panic. not at all!! oh my goodness! i should really meet my academic advisor to get him explained this to me.

Third Day! its market day in UQ, so i attend another orientation *yey! should really understand my way around uni by this time* and after a long speeches and specific orientation session for environmental management student, i figured out i was at the wrong session, again. i was like.. nooooooooo!!! not anymore!!! aaarrgghh.. apparently it was for UNDERGRADUATE student of environmental management!! the one for postgraduate student will be held at 5pm!! at the school of geography.. ahhh.. fine fine FINE! at least i learn where i supposed to belong to, damn it. But well, in the end, the orientation for postgraduate student is where the most fun are! we mingled, chat, laugh, accompanied with free flow of wine and good finger food, it was nice.. good end for me.. although i kinda forget my way back a bit, and trying google map from campus.. and i figured out somehow.. and i am safely home! dozed off before 9pm.

done with

barefoot brisbane

So i take my time getting lost in the city and trying to figured my way back and all these times, i see things thats a bit unusual for me.. like.. i see lots of people walking around barefoot, the first sight was this girl in the airport, she was carrying a big backpack and walk barefoot around the airport, so i thought she lost her shoes or something, but then i saw similar sight in the sidewalk, in and around the city centre, and especially around the university. i saw the sign in QUT campus library about this things, i cant really remember how it sound, *i forget to take the picture of this sign, but i would, later* but i think its something like you have to wear a sandal to enter or no barefoot allowed or somethings, which i think was weird, because at first i thought, who would walk around barefoot? unless you're at home? I mean, In Malaysia, or Indonesia, you wouldn't find a single soul went barefoot to the mall, unless they're GILA *indonesian word for crazy* or something. And, i think, those people wont be allowed to go inside the shopping mall. And in USM *a uni in malaysia, where i went for my undergraduate*, let alone barefoot, you wont even allowed to enter the library and international office if you wear a pair of flip flops! I think this barefoot thingy is like a tie-die fashion in Jakarta, where lots of people (not everyone) were doing it, i mean, wearing it, well, whatever the adjectives are. I thought about taking picture of these people, especially when i saw a lady with her two boys pushing a baby cart walk barefooted in the train station, but i dont know how far manner goes on here, i dont really want to offend anyone with my camera. i was so curious about this so i ask my host, Josh, and he asked me "Why not? the streets are clean.." i put on the bizarre look then he explained to me that its just a way for people to express their freedom, by not wearing any footwear, and they might would like to not wear their clothes either, but it would be illegal, so as far as the law goes, going barefooted is still legal, sort of. I laugh on this explanation. well it make sense, probably the street in oz is clean enough so people could go barefoot and doesnt need to worry that they step on something nasty or sharp or even worse: get a worm infection. well, whatever that is, if these people would ever ask my opinion, i'd say just dont do it in Indonesia! or probably someone could give me another explanation?

Australia: a hell of a trip

My first ever trip to Australia, this is how it start..

I check in, get my 25 kg in and proceed to free fiscal section, figured out that i have to pay the fiscal because i just about start my "overseas student activity" - or so the officer said, and i am not a tax payer, so i got to pay the fiscal (around 250USD). geez, after looooong argument with the officer, finally the let me go and give me the free fiscal stamp.

Then i went outside to say goodbye, not long after i heard the calls for passenger departing to sydney, please board the aircraft immediately. My godness! run to the immigration, and got the guy asked me for my immigration card, i forget to get one, so i need to run back to the check in counter and fill up the form and run to the immigration again, from there run to gate D3, panting my breath, finally managed to get onboard. (btw, i have about 10 kg stick to my back).

Sat on the flight for 6 long hour and arrived in Sydney. Going through the customs, declare all my cigarette, wait for the custom guy to check my bag and let me go. walk outside, change some cash and get myself an australian sim card. ok, one thing at the time. i really feel like a cigarette, but i got to cleared my baggage for the next flight, so i went to domestic terminal to check in. It was a bit far out so there's a shuttle bus to take the passenger, and all this time, each time i need to pass the x-ray, i need to take out my laptop, put it in a tray, take off my jacket and belt and empty my pocket. then i sat there, waiting for the bus. I was trying to figured out how to register my new sim card so i can call my mother back home, suddenly the bus arrived and everyone rushing in and i felt a bit panic, i grab all my things and stuffed it in the bag, hop on the bus. was a bit distracted and thinking that i should take some pictures, so i dig on my back to get my camera out. suddenly the bus arrived and i quickly get my things and stuffed them in the bag and in the pocket of my jacket. get off and suddenly realized, where's my phone? couldnt find it in the bag, so i ran back to the bus and i could find it either! what am i supposed to do now? i have i another flight calling for boarding. AAArrrggggghhhh!!! so i logged the lost properties and run for my flight.. Once i arrived in brisbane, i figured out that one of my bag is still in Sydney. FUCK! what is it now? trying to find the driver who supposed to pick me up at the airport but didnt see him anywhere in sight, take out my cigarette and light one, and suddenly an airport official come over to me and point to the NON SMOKING sign. oh gosh, BUSTED. My godness, never once i traveled alone that i come across this much of a trouble..

but it wasnt all gloomy, when i am in desperation, i walk to the taxi ticket counter and turn out telling the security guy there about what happen to me, bla bla bla bla bla bla.. he decided to help me out, take out his phone and ring up someone at UQ pick up services, finally the lady on the other side of the phone told me, just wait at the baggage claim area, the driver will be there in a minute. Huff. one relief. then i meet the driver and apparently he's a really nice old man, very very funny. throwing jokes and laugh all the way to Herston Rd. then i meet Josh, my couchsurfing host and he also turn out to be a very nice guy, very resourceful, patiently answer all my question about the city and uni and stuff. From his place i walk down the road to the bus stop trying to hail one, NONE OF THEM STOP FOR ME.. and i am thinking, again? but suddenly a random guy asked me, "did u see a tall, blond, old, australian guy here a little while ago?" I was like: no, no at all, nobody here since 20 mins ago, i was even trying to hail a bus and none of them stop. he then leave to call someone, and back to me he asked, are you going to the city? i answered yes immediately, and he offer me a ride!!

Too much things happen to me today, the bad, and the good, but brisbane people, are almost definitely friendly. I am glad.

me stranded in the airport after 8 sticks of cigarette, lost my phone, lost my luggage, cant find the university driver who supposed to picked me up, hungry and still waiting..

Merbabu

Temaaaan!!!

Hari sabtu lalu saya ke Merbabu looowwh.. duh ceritanya panjang skali.. mulai dari brangkat sampe balik.. huhuhu..

Jadi gini, pas hari sabtu, jam 9 pagi kita berangkat dari Jakal menuju stasiun bus yg akan membawa kita ke Kopeng, salah satu climbing pointnya. Turun bus sekitar jam 12 trus kita makan2 dulu, minum2 dulu, akhirnya jam 1 baru mulai jalan naik.. awal2 jalannya masih aspal yg menajak gitu.. lama2 berubah dari jalan batu.. tapi masih ada kendaraan gitu.. jadi ada pendaki yang naik pake sepeda motor ato angkot.. sementara gw ama temen2 gw BERJALAN KAKI, dan gw hanya memandang dengan iri.. oiya, gw ber-4 ama temen2 gw.. ada Bocor, yg jalannya kayak kuda (riang gembira dan loncat sana sini ga normal seolah2 stok energynya tuh ga abis2), trus ada Herlambang, temennya Bocor, trus ada Wazi (bukan wiza lowh!) yg mengetahui rute2 merbabu like he know his own backyard dan filosofis skali.. dia tuh berjalan dengan tenang ga gitu cepet, tapi terus.. uda gitu, suka ga berjalan di path gitu.. ntah di rumput, ntah di semak2, dia jalan seenak2 hati (udah cuma pake sendal jepit doang!!) dan udah nyampe atas duluan ntah gimana caranya..jadi klo ditanya: ga cape apa? jawabannya tuh: capenya jangan dibawa.. ato ga kedigninan apa? jawabannya bakal: dinginnya jgn dirasa2.. huhuhu.. nih orang!!

Ok, ok.. jadi kita berjalan menanjak di jalan aspal semudia berbatu2 itu hampir dua jam. sekitar
jam 3an gitu kita nyampe di Base camp satu.. dari situ jalannya mulai seperti trek naik gunung, setapak menanjak.. Nah, berhubung si Wazi ini sangat mengetahui rute2 di Merbabu, dia milih jalan yg ga banyak pendaki lain.. jadilah kita berjalan di trek yg CUMA KITA DOANG yg lewat disaat itu, padahal banyak pendaki lain yg lagi naik juga.. tapi cuma kedengaran suaranya aja.. ga keliatan orangnya..hehe.. setelah nanjak yg buat gw berasa jauh banget dan ga nyampe2, gw mulai resah dan lapar.. jadi kita bentar2 berhenti krn gw cape dan haus.. Di salah satu point perhentian kita itu.. gw ceroboh naro tas.. akhirnya.. tas gw gelinding.. HUAAA!!! gw panik bgt!! jauh lagi ngegelindingnya!! ngebayangin harus turun dan ngutip tas itu bikin gw mo nangis!! huhuhu.. untungnya ada Bocor dan Wazi yg dengan sigap langsung turun dan ngambil tas itu buat ge.. hehehe.. saya hanya mampu menonton mereka turun kebawah dan naik laghi dengan tas gw di tangannya. hehehe..

Setelah accident tas, kita jalan lagi.. rasanya jauh bgt, ngelewatin hutan dan padang rumput gitu.. gw kelaparan.. dan mulai banyak bacot.. mereka terus nyemangatin gw dengan bilang, pos dua ga jauh lagi koq! deket air terjun! nanti disana ada yg jual gorengan.. enak deh.. kita bisa masak indomi terus makan gorengan terus minum banyak2.. hehe.. jadilah kita jalan lagi.. tapi krn gw laper skali, akhirnya kita berhenti dan ngaso.. makan kacang dan permen jahe.. biar anget.. dingin soalnya digunung ituh.. setelah selesai acara ngacangnya kita jalan lagi.. samapi lah di punggung bukit yg kita naikin dari tadi, terlihatlah gunung Merbabu, trus temen gw bilang: ITU DIA PUNCAK MERBABU!! sambil nunjuk ke gunung sebelah.. gw langsung pucet.. anjrit.. jadi menyentuh gunung merbabu pun BELOOOOM!! hadoooh.. temen gw langsung buru2 meralat.. nanti ada jembatan koq dari bukit ini ke gunung itu.. *dalam hati gw mikir, mana ada jembatan ngubungin gunung spt ini di Indonesia?! tapi gw mencoba menghibur diri dengan percaya* Malam pun turun dan kita belom mendengar air terjun ato apapun yg menandakan pos dua udah deket.. makin dingin dan jalannya makin susah.. menanjak lewat jalan berpasir halus yg rada licin dan batu2 yg harus dipanjat.. gw pengen nangis.. cape bgt gw.. kapan nyampenya.. hiks hiks hiks.. malem makin gelap dan gw makin cape.. pos dua belum juga keliatan.. temen2 gw terus membujuk2 gw yg makin banyak bacot.. katanya 15 menit lg,. 15 menit lg.. 15 menit lg.. ga habis2 15 menit itu.. kita ngelewatin jalan yg sepi dan hampir tertutup semak2.. kebayang dong, udah malem tuh, cahayanya cuma dari senter, trus jalannya susah gitu, semak2 setinggi bahu lo.. ditambah gw membayangkan cerita2 seram yg terjadi di gunung2 di Indonesia.. yg orang2 ilanglah, nyasar lah muter2 disitu2 aja, jatoh lah, dan sebagainya.. makin panik lah gw!! berulang2 gw tanya temen gw, kita ga nyasar kaaaan?? beneran nih kitsa di jalur yg bener?? dan temen2 gw pun dengan sangat sabar menenangkan gw.. iya.. kita ga nyasar.. jalan aj.. kita bentar lg nyampe.. trus kita makan.. gitu terus.. sampe setelah satu tikungan, gw melihat api unggun bersinar dikejauhan.. sumpah..THAT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS I SAW hari itu..gw langsung bersemangat lg.. hehehe..

sampe ke pos dua, gw bener2 kedinginan.. jadilah gw nangkring di sekitar api unggun bersama pendaki2 lain sementara the boys do the cooking.. hehe.. trus kita makan and have a cup of tea and relax, and i felt so much better already..jadi gw bertanya, kita ga gelar tenda?lalu Wazi bertanya: wiz, mo dapet sunrise ga? dan gw dengan bodoh mengangguk. dikepala gw, klo mo dapet sunrise, kita bakal camp disitu dan brangkat lg jam 2pagi gitu, TERNYATA saya salah. kita harus jalan lagi.. huhhu.. jadilah the boys (again) do the packing dan setelah siap kita say goodbye ama para pendaki yg masih nongkrong disitu dan kita naik lagi.. gw berhenti hampir tiap menit, trying to catch my breath yg uda tinggal satu satu.. terus terus terus.. kaki gw mulai sakit, pala gw mulai pusing, nafas makin susah..ampe gw bener2 bentar2 brenti.. mereka trus nyemangatin bilang kita camp di heli pad, bagus bgt, bangun langsung sunrise, dsb dsb .. sampe disatu titik gw bilang ga sanggup lg.. akhirnya kyknya mereka ga tega mem-push gw lagi, jadinya mereka gelar tenda di bagian yg rada datar yg mereka temukan.. (its a step climb, you know!) oh ya, sepanjang malam, buloan tuh bersinar dengan amat sangat cerah! bulat bgt dan langitnya penuh bintang ditambah angin yg kenceng bgt meniup awan diatas sana jd kyk ada invisible turbulence yg menggerakkan awan yg menari2 gitu.. keren bgt! but i was too tired to enjoy the beautiful scenery..

Setelah tenda berdiri, gw langsung masuk dan meringkuk, gw uda pake kaos + sweater handuk + sweater rajutan dari wol + jaket waterproof dan masih kedinginan! celananya juga dua lapis tamabah kaos kaki dua lapis, masih juga.. the boys slept outside the tent, inside their sleeping bag.. while i am cooconed inside my sleeping bag, inside the tent and still feel cold.. huhuhu..tengah malem gw terbangun, perlu pipis.. pas gw keluar tenda, angin bertiup kencang dimuka gw.. dinggggiiiiiinn bgt!! pas gw mendongak, gw liat bintang bertaburan dilangit yg cerah bgt.. dan gw liat bulan.. sabit.. gw bingung.. bukannya sebelum tidur bulannya penuh? apa gw berhalusinasi? aneh bgt.. berfikir.. berfikir.. tapi kyknya otak gw beku di suhu segini.. jadi gw memutuskan, bodo amat lah. masuk dlm tenda.. semept kepikir mo motret, tapi berhubung ga bawa tripod.. dan terlalu dingin di luar.. gw terlalu malas untuk mencoba.. sekarang nyesel sih.. tapi sudahlah.. *berhubung gw masih penasaran ttg bulan sabit itu, gw meng-google dan gw temukan klo itu adalah GERHANA BULAN yg gw liat.. huhuhu..* dan gw bobo lg..dengan lullaby dari suara orang ngorok diluar tenda.. gw heran gmn mereka bs sepules itu di udara luar yg begitu dingin..

Pagi2, temen2 gw uda berisik, sunruse! sunrise! gw baru bergerak mo bangun dan ikut sampe salah satu dari mereka bilang, udah, kmu liat sunrise dari komputer ajah!! ntar ga keburu klo kmu ikut! huhuhuhuhu..ya sudah gw nurut, daripada di omelin lebih panjang, krn td mlm gw uda ngeluh byk bgt.. setelah mereka balik dari motret sunrise, gw nunggu mereka ngeluarin kompor dan masak.. but nobody did.. dan gw mulai lapar lg.. jadilah gw ngeluarin persenjataan gw, Ritz, Oreo, Tuna, Keju, dan Susu Ultra!! hehehe.. setelah sarapan mereka packing tenda dan kita mulai jalan lg.. gw kira puncak uda deket, jadi rada semangat.. sampe Heli Pad yg dimaksud (tempat liat sunrise td) terlihatlah puncak merbabu (at least yg gw kira puncak) yg terlihat tinggi menjulang.. rada pucet membayangkan harus naik lg, tapi tanggung. sudahlah. Jadilah Wazi yg memimpin, tau2 dia millih jalan turunan, gw panik lagi, loh, yg itu bukan puncaknya? koq kita jalannya turun *gw panik membayangkan klo turun ntar naiknya jadi banyak lg!!* trus Herlambang dengan tenang bilang.. kita ambil air dulu.. *btw, lupa dijelaskan klo di pos dua gw ga melihat air terjun, yg ada pipa2 yg bocorannya ditampung buat minum* puncaknya lebih deket dari sini koq.. Oh.. gitu ya? ya sudah gw nurut lagi.. jadi kita lewat lereng2 gitu.. tercium bau belerang.. trus ketemu bocoran pipa lg dimana wazi cuci muka dan sikat gigi, trus bocor boker ga jauh dari situ dan gw sibuk motret eidelweis.. *gw ga metik loh!! beneran!!* setelah selesai ngisi air dsb kita jalan lagi, kali ini mulai menanjak lg, dan gw mulai ngos2an lg, trus herlamabang nunjuk ke salah satu point yg tinggi diatas sana: Liat bendera merah putih itu? itu dia puncaknya. uda keliatan kan? ayo semangat!! trus bocor nambahin: ada yg jualan es buah loh di puncak! ayo semangat! * gw hampir percaya klo ga ditambahin; ada starbucks juga..* sial..

dengan susah payah sampai juga kita ke puncak yg dimaksud.. trus gw bertanya.. katanya dari puncak Merbabu bisa ngeliat Merapi? Mana....? mereka senyum ajah, klo mo liat Merapi harus ke puncak yg itu!! sambil nunjuk puncak satu lg. *Aduh..* maka kita berjalan lagi.. dan gw merasa lapar.. jadi gw lapor.. laper.. laper.. huhhu..jadilah gw di iming2in, ayo terus! nanti kita masak dipuncak! aduh enak bgt makan sambil mandangin Merapi.. rasanya ga ada duanya!! iya deh, iya deh.. jalan lagi.. setelah sampe gw nanya lg, mana merapinya? dijawab, bukan puncak yg ini, tapi yg itu! sambil nunjuk lg. *sial!! terus aja gitu!!! gw mulai mengutuk2 dalam hati* trik ini terus diulang2 sampe kita mencapai salah satu puncak yg kaki Merapinya keliatan, KAKINYA DOANG!! huhuhuhu.. akhirnya Herlambang nunjuk atas lg, itu dia puncak yg sebenarnya.. daritadi cuma puncak tipuan belaka..huahuahua.. mo nangis lg gw.. tinggi bgt.. gmn caranya gw bs kesitu? gw ngeliat pendaki2 yg naik dan turun nempelin badannya di batu supaya ga jatoh *mereka gendong tas dan ga pake tali pengaman lowh!!* makin gw pucet.. tapi ngebayangin uda cape bgt jalan jauuuuh tapi ga dapet foto Merapi dari puncak Merbabu? duuuuh.. sayang bgt.. akhirnya gw memaksakan diri naik.. selangkah, dua langkah.. aduh,, jauhnya.. debunya bertiup2 masuk mata lg.. dingin.. kering.. hiks hiks.. dikit lg.. dikit lg.. dan akhirnya HUP! puncak!

HOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! gw sampe puncaaaaaakkkkkk!!!!!!! pas 17 agustusssss!! bangga sekali rasanya!!! huehhehhehe.. gw langsung nyari tempat yg paling byk sinar mataharinya dan berjemur! mencoba menaklukkan rasa dingin.. hehehe.. menunggu the boys ngeluarin perangkat masaknya.. mereka juga diam saja.. bersantai dan menikmati pemandangan.. setelah beberapa lama ga da tanda2 mereka mo masak, gw nanya.. ga jadi masak? gw lapeeeer..dijawab, ntar aja.. rada bawah.. biar adem.. kita kepanasan.. huuuu.. iya deh,, aku nurut.. ngemil oreo dulu, buat ganjel.. hehe.. setelah ada2 setengah jam kita mulai turun.. lewat jalur yg beda, yg bakal keluar di selo.. jadi ga balik ke kopeng tempat kita naik kmaren..jalurnya sih indah.. savannah gitu.. warnanya juga keren bgt..ijo kekuningan dengan langit yg sangaaaat biru.. tapi terlalu lapar untuk ngeluarin kamera dan jepret2.. pas turun gw jatoh melulu, akhirnya gw memilih ngesot sejauh gw bisa.. dan jalan secukupnya, jadi setiap gw jatoh.. gw bakal melanjutkan dengan ngesot kebawah.. hehehe..pas sampe di pepohonan yg ditunjuk, kyk eidelweis garden gitu, the boys mengeluarkan peralatan masak dan berniat masak 5 indomie, trus gw bersikeras mereka harus masak setidaknya 6, karena gw amat sangat lapar.. mereka menatap.. tapi ttp masak 6 bungkus juga.. airnya mulai menipis.. trus gw nanya ttg cuci tgn, krn tangan gw kotor bgt abis merosot.. dijawab; mo cuci tangan apa minum? airnya tinggal seperempat botol.. huu.. jadilah gw ga cuci tangan.. trus sendok yg dipake juga kena tanah!! ama mereka diaduk aja terus ama indomi dan dimakan.. gw ga bisa berkata apa2 dan ikut makan juga..laper, mo gmn lg?

abis makan..sekitar jam 2an kita berjalan lagi menyusuri savannah dan jalan terus kebawah *jgn lupa, masih ada beberapa bukit yg dilewati* perjalanan terasa panjaaaang dan endless.. tapi ga seberat naiknya.. so its still ok for me..ngelewatin savannah yg kyk di film teletubbies.. teruus.. mulai memasuki semak belukar.. hutan rimba.. sampe akhirnya!!! PERKAMPUNGAN!! begitu nyampe basecamp selo, gw langsung nenggak segelas teh panas dan mencoba nelfon adek gw si ity, mengabarkan gw ga bs pulang hari itu.. krn uda gelas pas kita nyampe base camp dan ga da lg angkutan ke jogja..akhirnya nginepn satu malem di base camp dan besoknya brangkat pulang deeeeh.. hehe..

being bloody normal

get back home late nearly every night. get up early on weekdays, drag my ass to work. spend the day out and be home again after midnight. so the cycle goes on.

i hardly went to the office these days, but i still spend the day out and be home (again) after midnite, mom not really happy about this. one morning, while i am getting ready to go out, mom come to my door:

Mom: what time do you reach home last night?
Me: 2am something mom, why?
Mom: why cant you be back before midnight?
Me: just because. its fun to be out there mom. (sneer)
Mom: just be normal, out in the morning, back before the sun down, why cant you?

sigh.. about this being normal shit again. "dont smoke, normal girl dont smoke, bad girl does" or "why cant you think the way normal people does?" or "what about these not eating meat shit? just be normal, eat the beef" or "you cared more about the environment than about your own body, why cant you be normal and learn about priorities?"

sounds like whatever i do is ABNORMAL to mom. sigh..if she's not my MOTHER, the one whose opinion matter, i wont be bothered by this.

100 years of nation awakening, are we really awake?

so that was the advertisement said, celebrating 100 years of nation awakening. MY question is: are we awake yet? are we prepared for this celebration? what are we celebrating exactly? was it the flood in Jakarta at the beginning of the year? was is the increase in oil prices in world market that caused indonesia's economy plan to went upside down? was it the death of too many children caused by malnutrition? was it the destruction of our poorly protected sea by foreign fishing vessel? was it another story of our precious timber that was bought at low price by foreign company? was it another story of corrupt government official? what was it that we're celebrating? indeed, hundred years ago, budi utomo and tjipto mangunkusumo held the first native intellectual congress. it was, indeed a nation awakening. but how far has we gone in fulfilling 100 years of nation awakening? when was the idea of visit indonesia 2008 was thought? how far was the preparation? 2008 went on without pausing or waiting any second to check if indonesia was ready or not. nation awakening;bullshit. wake up people, wake up you! who sat at those comfortable chair as the government officer! start to do something!

we always mock malaysia as an "idea thief", as a country who have lost its identity, but look at ourselves! are we good enough yet to say this things? are we protecting our precious islands as well as they did? do we appreciate our culture like they did to theirs (or ours, but they claim its theirs anyway)? have we done enough?

maybe this VISIT INDONESIA 2008 has open our eyes a bit, that we're not ready, but we pretend we are! nation awakening! we need to wake ourselves first! what have i'd done as a nationalist? did i do something good or i am just another parasite to this dying nation?